Electric railway.



Patented Sept. 4, 1900.

T. P. CHANDLER. ELECTRIC RAILWAY. (Application find. July 27, 1000.

m Model.)

r Noam: ravens co. mmournov. wAsHmnTo UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEOPHILUS P. CHANDLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

$PEGIFIGA'1ION forming part f Letters Patent no. 657,330 dated September 4, 1900. Application filed July 27, 1900.6 Serial No. 24,984. (No model.)

To all whom Zt may concern:

Be it known that I, THEOPHILUS P. CHAND- LER, of the city and. county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction of electric railways especially adapted for high speeds and for carrying light parcels, mail-matter, &c.

In carrying out my invention I suspend two parallel conductors, the upper of which is a heavy cable and carries the weight of the car while acting as the positive or supplyconductor. Theotherconductorisalight return-oonductor connected at intervals wit-h the heavy supporting-conductor by insulating connections. The car consists of a receptacle hung from one or more trucks having grooved wheels running upon the supporting:

- conductor. The trucks are each preferably formed with'two electric motors, in which the armatures thereof are directly connected with the grooved supporting and drive wheels inclosing the motor. The supportingframe from the truck depends and is connected to the package receptacle or compartment and also provided with suitably arranged collector-wheels for making a traveling contact with the under side of the light suspended conductor. Where the car'is of considerable length,two such trucks are employed,and said trucks are connected with the receptacle by joints movable about verticalaxes. The two trucks may also be connected by a suitable tie or connecting bar to impart more stability to the entire structure in operation.

My invention also comprehends details of oonstructiomall of which will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric railway and car embodying my improve ments. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of most of one of the trucks and its connections with the compartment or car, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of same on line 2 2.

from it at intervals by the insulating connections 0, of any suitable character.-

S S are two electrically-propelled trucks -and have downwardly-extending frames G,

which project below the lower conductor B and are connected with the compartments H near each end byvertical joints or pivots g. In this manner each of the trucks may swivel about their connections g. The trucks comprise two motors built into the wheels, the construction of which will be more clearly understood by examining Fig. 3. Secured to the framework G are the field-magnets D and the casing F of the motor proper. E11- circling the field-magnets, so as to be of as large diameter as possible, is the armature D, which is secured to the driving-wheel E by being directly connected with its shaft d, which is journaled in the field-magnets D. The wheel E has its periphery deeply grooved, as at e, so as to run upon the cable A. To relieve the shaft 01 of excessive strain, I piefor to form the outer periphery of the casing F with an annular groove K and the inner part of the drive-wheel J with an annular groove h, and between these two grooves I interpo'se antifriction-balls K, so that the downward strain of the fieldmagnets will be largely received upon the ball-bearings close to the cable A. By these means the friction will be greatly overcome and high speeds are readily secured for the driving-wheel. As shown, I prefer to form the trucks of two of these motors, each having the two field-magnets rigidly connected with the same depending frame G. It is evident, however, that the truck may only be provided with a single motor and wheel, if so desired, or the electric motor proper might only be applied to one of the wheels alone and the other wheel merely act as a trailer.

I, however, prefer to have an electric motor in each of the ing-wheels.

Secured to the lower part of the frameG is a horizontal arm I, bolted thereto by an in- The ends of; this arm N are sulating-joint. provided with slotted yoke portions J, in

which boxes may move vertically in the slots j, and said boxes pressed upward by springs 1). In these boxes are jou-rnaled the; collector-wheels J, which run against'tlie lower or under surface of the suspended nega-- The. collector-wheelsJ areand conductors A and B will result. The

l spring-support for the collector-wheels J compensate for any slight irregularities in the:

suspended conductor B at points'of support,v and therefore the extent of this adjustment may be limited to an inch or two at most. Any slack in the conductorB between: itspoints of support will enable the conductor to be supported upon the collector-wheel J without requiring the springs to raise said wheels, as might occur in passing under the;

connections 0 or any other connections of the railway which may be more or less rigid.

the arm I for connecting with the" negative conductor,and this circuit may have a switcht for opening or closingvit. 'The other terminal of the motorconnectsthrough themotor structure with the driving-wheel and receives current from the conductor A. I prefer to. employ for this purpose a contant-speed motor and have therefore shown the motor as a.

shunt-motor; but I do not limit myself to anyparticular winding for the motor, as that would be -changed or modified to suit the requirements.

If desired, the two trucks may be connected together by a tie-rod W, connected with the motor-trucks by suitable adjustable j ointsat each end. If desired, only one end of the trucks may be employed and the compartment H made shorter;v but I prefer the dou' ble-truck construction and long compartment.

I While I prefer the details of construction shown, they may be modified without departing; from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what Patent, is-

l. In an electric railway,vthe combination of two suspended insulated cables mechanically connected at intervals and: supplyingcurrents of opposite polarity, with an electrically-'- propelled truck having one or more grooved driving-wheels running upon the upper cable, an electricmotor arranged withinjthe rim of each driving-wheel and comprising fieldmagnets one of said parts being connected to and rotating with the driving-wheel, a depending frame connected with the other part of the. motor and extending to a. point below both suspendied conductors, an'insulated current-contact device carried by the depending frame making a traveling contact with the under side of the lower suspended conductor,

and a receptacle for containing merchandise,

oz, carried by the depending frame andlocated below both the suspended conductors. 2., In an electric railway, the combination of two suspended insulated cables mechanically connected at intervals and supplying currents of oppositepolarity,with. anelectricallypropelled truck having one or more'grooved driving-wheels running upon the upper cable, an electric'motor arranged Wlblllll the run of each driving-wheel and comprising fieldmagnets andarmature one of which parts is connected to'and' rotates with 'the driving wheel-,adepending frame connected with the other part of themotor and extending to a point below.- both suspended"conductors, an insulated currentrcontact devicecarried by the dependingframe making atraveling contact with the under side of the lower suspended cond uctor, a receptacle for containing merchandise, &c., carried by the depending frame and. located below both the suspended conductors, an i-nclosing case for the field-mag- T represents the electric conductorswhich lead from the commutator of the motor to.

nets and armature of the electric motor connected with the: depending frame, and antifriction-bearings between the said casing and the inner portion: of the: rim of the drivingwheel. I

In'an electric railway, the combination of twoparallelsuspended conductors con nected together at intervals by insulating connec; tions, an electrically-propelledvehicle having two driving-wheels arranged inaali'nement and running upon the upper of the suspended conductors, an electric motor arranged within each of the wheels and comprising field-magnets and armature onelof which is directly connected with the driving-wheel, a frame connected with the other elements of the electric: motors tohold them against rotation and ldepending to a point below both suspended gconductors, receptacle for carrying mer- Zchandise, &c-.,. connected to the depending frame and located below the suspended conductors,.and a current-collecting device mak- 1 ing contact with thexlower suspended conductor consisting of a grooved under-contact 1 Wheel and a spring-supporttherefor connect- ;ed: with the depending frame.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 4. In an electric railway, the combination ing two driving-wheels arrangedin al-inement iand running upon theupperof the suspended conductors, an electric motor arranged within each. of the wheels and comprising field-magnets and armature one of which is "directly connected with the'drivi-ng-wheel, a frameconnected with the other elements of the electric-motors to hold them against rotation and depending: to a point below bothsuspended conductors, a receptacle for carrying merchandise, &c. connected to the depending frame and located below the suspended conductors, and a current-collecting device making contact with the lower suspended conductor consisting of a longitudinal insulated arm having vertical slots in its ends, boxes arranged in said vertical slots, "springs to press the bpxes upward, grooved collectorwheels journaled in the boxes and making a traveling contact with the under surface of the lower suspended conductor and located respectively below each of the dri ving-wheels, and an insulating connection between thelongitudinal arm and the depending frame.

5, In an electric railway, the combination of two suspended conductors one above the other connected at intervals by insulating connections, two independent trucks each having two grooved wheels running upon the upper of the suspended conductors and also provided with a depending frame extending to a point below the lower suspended conductor, one or more electric motors on each truck having one of its elements connected with the driving wheel or wheels and the other element connected with the truck-frame, a longitudinally-arranged compartment or receptacle for merchandise,&c. ,arranged below the suspended conductors, pivotal connections between the said receptacle and the depending frames of the trucks whereby they may turn independently about vertical axes, and one or more contact devices carried by the depending frames making an underrunning contact with the lower suspended conductor for supplying current to the motor or motors.

6. In an electric railway, the combination of twosuspended conductors one above the other connected at intervals by insulating connections, two independent trucks each having two grooved wheels running upon the upper of the suspended conductors and also provided with a depending frame extending to a point below the lower suspended conductor, one or more electric motors on each truck having one of its elements connected with the driving wheel or wheels and the other element connected with the truck-frame, a longitudinally-arranged compartment or receptacle for merchandise,&c. ,arranged below the suspended conductors, pivotal connections between the said receptacle and the depending frames of the trucks whereby they mayturn independently about vertical axes, one or more contact devices carried by the depending frames making an underrunning contact with the'lower suspended conductor for supplying current to the motor or motors,

and an adjustable connecting tie-bar between the two trucks.

7. In an electric railway, the combination of the two suspended conductors arranged one above the other and connected at intervals by insulating connections and adapted to supply currents of opposite polarities, two trucks having supporting grooved wheels running upon the upper conductor and a pair of grooved collector-wheels running against the under surface of the lower suspended conductor, one or more electric motors carried upon each truck for propelling it, a long receptacle or compartment arranged below both of the suspended conductors, and loose connections between the trucks and the longitudinal compartment whereby the trucks may independently swivel in passing around curves.

In testimony of which invention I have here unto set my hand.

THEOPHILUS P. CHANDLER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR T. 'SUTCLIFFE, HENRY C. ESLING. 

